Evangelism Gifts

The evangelistic process involves both human elements and divine elements. The human elements are gifts, service and activities; and the divine elements are Spirit, Lord and God. The three-ness is not accidental.

Let's examine these three elements. Paul mentions gifts (charisma) in 1 Corinthians 12:1. The second term has been translated as "service." The Greek word is diakonia, which is related to diakonos, and is usually translated as deacons. The difference between the two words is the difference between the office of Deacon and the action of deaconing or performing service. Some translations read "administrations," which suggests that an orderly service plan may be in view. Note also that the spiritual element related to diakonia is the Lord. The word Lord suggests a supreme authority or master. Where charisma is superintended by the Spirit and is subject to the influence of the Spirit, diakonia is superintended by the Lord and is subject to the authority of the Lord, of Christ and His church. Note the paring of gifts and Spirit, and service and Lord.

The last pairing is activities and God, "there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone" (1 Corinthians 12:6). Unlike the English word "energy," which can be abstracted as a potential force, the Greek word "energema" indicates the actual and active force that produces something. It is not abstract or a measure of potential, but is the process and/or result of something actual. Think of it as the energy of Isaiah 55:11, "so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do." This energy is superintended by and subject to God Himself. God accomplishes what He intends to accomplish.

As we think of these three things as elements of evangelism, we see that evangelism entails a Spirit-led charisma in the midst of a comprehensive plan of service opportunities that result in the actual accomplishment of God's Word. There are a variety of thoughts, ideas, feelings, plans and activities, but in spite of the variety, all of these things pull together or are superintended by the unity of God. The unity that is in the midst of diversity is the intentional focus upon Jesus, the Christ of God; and apart from this focus, there can be no unity. Diversity in-and-of-itself, apart from the unity of the trinitarian God of Christianity, is divisive because its unity, not being trinitarian, is false. The unity of Christianity is a matter of God's superintendence while doing a variety of things, diverse things -- gifts, service and activities, but doing them all for the same unified purpose, in the service of the glory of God in Christ.

According to verse 7 there are two elements of this unity, one focuses on God and one focuses on humanity. The godly element is emphasized through the giving of various gifts to various people. The gifts are God's to give, and much like the economics of Adam Smith, the multiform, diverse, individual exercise of these gifts contributes to the uniform, social benefit and good of all. The key to the process is the manifesting or showing forth of the Spirit. And it needs to be noted that this manifestation is given to the saints. It is not something that we work up in our own energy. Rather, it is given, and part of the gift is the desire and ability to engage it.

It is important to note that the source of energy for the use of the gift comes from outside of us, from Christ, from the Holy Spirit through regeneration. And at the same time, this given energy is real energy that manifests itself in the lives of individuals. It is real, actual and visible -- it is a personal charisma that permanently changes one's life and perspective.

Paul emphasized and repeated the idea of unity in diversity, and it needs to be noted in this day and age that the thing that provides the unity is God -- Jesus Christ. To suggest that there can be unity in diversity apart from Jesus Christ is a lie. Apart from Jesus Christ, and the trinitarian character of the Godhead, there can be no real unity nor any real diversity. Apart from Christ the emphasis on unity becomes totalitarianism. Apart from Christ the emphasis on diversity becomes anarchy. Only in Christ is there genuine social unity; only in Christ is there genuine social diversity (or particularity).

Also note that these gifts are given to each Christian, not to some Christians. The Greek clearly means each and every, and the implication necessarily effects each and every Christian. All Christians are gifted in some way to contribute to the life of Christ's church and to evangelize within his or her circle of influence. This does not mean that all of these gifts are to be used at church, in the service of the building or the organization on Sunday mornings or throughout the week. All Christians are not called to hold church offices, serve on committees or sweep church floors.

Rather, Paul has in mind a much larger vision of Christ's church. Paul has the whole of human society in mind. He intends that God's people serve Jesus Christ in everything that they think, say and do. God's gifts to His people are to be used at home, at work, on the road, on vacation -- everywhere and always. Why? Because Jesus Christ has been given all authority, all not some. Being a Christian is a twenty-four/seven endeavor.

It is not a difficult thing to do, though it has it's moments. There are times of stress, times of testing and chastisement. And yet the growth in grace that comes out of such times provides a kind of joy in the face of difficulties because we know that Christ will overcome all difficulties as His kingdom grows. He will subdue all of His enemies, and He will do it through the common service of His people who engage God's gifts in the midst of their ordinary lives.


About the Author
For over 25 years Phillip A. Ross has been leading churches and writing many Christian books. In 1998 he founded http://www.Pilgrim-Platform.org and began writing to demonstrate the Paul's opposition to worldly Christianity, he published an exposition First Corinthians in 2008. Arsy Varsy -- Reclaiming the Gospel in First Corinthians, Ross's book, shows how Paul turned the world upside down.